Effects of a Dan Shen component, magnesium lithospermate B, in nephrectomized rats.

Magnesium lithospermate B, a compound newly isolated from Dan Shen, was given orally to rats for 70 days after excision of five-sixths of their kidney volume. As a result, mesangial proliferation, tubulo-interstitial lesions and glomerular sclerotic lesions, which were conspicuous in rats that were not given magnesium lithospermate B after nephrectomy, were inhibited. Furthermore, a decrease in blood urea nitrogen, improvement of hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesteremia, and inhibition of urinary protein excretion were observed. The levels of creatinine, methylguanidine and guanidino-succinic acid, which accumulate in the blood with the progress of renal failure, were decreased significantly in rats given magnesium lithospermate B. These results indicate that magnesium lithospermate B, a component of an Oriental medicine has potential as a new therapeutic agent for inhibiting the progression of renal dysfunction.